Dollhouse

Friday 10/09/09

 Total Viewers :

CBS: 8.01 million, NBC: 6.54, ABC: 4.01, Fox: 2.30, CW: 1.73

 Adults 18-49 :

CBS: 1.9 rating/6 share, NBC: 1.5/ 5, ABC: 1.0/ 3, Fox: 0.9/ 3, CW: 0.7/ 2

Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 20 percent at this same point last year to approximately 28 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.

 Friday’s Winners (excluding repeats) :

(Keep in mind that expectations are lower on Friday)

Ghost Whisperer (CBS), Medium (CBS)

 Aging Up :

Numbers (CBS)

- Friday’s Losers :

Brothers (Fox), ‘Til Death (Fox), Smallville (CW), Dollhouse (Fox), The Jay Leno Show (NBC)

 Note: Any reported ratings from an earlier date are based on the final nationals.

 Ratings Breakdown :

CBS led the diluted Friday troops, with a first-place finish in every half-hour care of its line-up of Ghost Whisperer (Viewers: 8.60 million; A18-49: 2.1 rating/7 share), Medium (Viewers: 8.25 million; A18-49: 1.9/ 6) and Numbers (Viewers: 7.13 million; A18-49: 1.6/ 5). Medium, no doubt, is the perfect fit out of Ghost Whisperer. But veteran Numbers has sprung a leak among adults 18-49, with erosion from one year earlier (Viewers: 8.01 million; A18-49: 2.2/ 7 on Oct. 10, 2008) of 880,000 viewers and 27 percent in the demo. Ghost Whisperer is also down significantly, with a loss of 1.29 million viewers (9.69 to 8.60 million) and 22 percent among adults 18-49 (2.7/10 to 2.1/ 7).

Second-place NBC opened the evening with granddaddy Law & Order (Viewers: #2, 7.23 million; A18-49: #2, #2, 1.5/ 6), which performed admirably opposite aforementioned Ghost Whisperer, followed by Dateline (Viewers: #2, 7.02 million; A18-49: #2, 1.5/ 5) and ongoing flop The Jay Leno Show (Viewers: #3, 5.33 million; A18-49: #3, 1.3/ 4). As reported earlier in the week, planned 9 p.m. NBC returnee Southland has been unceremoniously canceled and Dateline will remain in the time period. The six unaired episodes of Southland are currently being pitched to cable. TNT should seriously consider it.

Next up was ABC care of a repeat of FlashForward (Viewers: #3, 3.11 million; A18-49: #3t, 0.8/ 3), which this Lost fan just cannot get into, repeats of sitcoms Modern Family (Viewers: #3, 2.95 million; A18-49: #4, 0.9/ 3) and must see The Middle (Viewers: #3, 2.76 million; A18-49: #4, 0.9/ 3) and veteran 20/20 (Viewers: #2, 6.07 million; A18-49: #2, 1.5/ 5). 20/20 featured an interview with a Mr. TV favorite, Valerie Bertinelli. Coming up next Friday on ABC: the season premiere of Ugly Betty, which will air back-to-back with two episodes.

Fourth in both categories was Fox’s failing combination of Brothers (Viewers: #4, 2.35 million; A18-49: #3t, 0.8/ 3), unnecessary returnee ‘Til Death (Viewers: #4, 2.36 million; A18-49: #4, 0.8/ 3) and sophomore fizzle Dollhouse (Viewers: #4, 2.25 million; A18-49: #3, 1.0/ 3). And last was The CW’s relocated Smallville (Viewers: #5, 2.30 million; A18-49: #3, 1.0/ 3) and a repeat of America’s Next Top Model (Viewers: #5, 1.16 million; A18-49: #5, 0.5/ 2), which has not benefited by featuring shorter wannabe models only. Although Smallville built from year-ago occupants Everybody Hates Chris (Viewers: 1.70 million; A18-49: 0.7/ 2) and The Game (Viewers: 1.80 million; A18-49: 0.8/ 3) on Oct. 10, 2008 by an average of 550,000 viewers and 33 percent among adults 18-49, take a look at the year-to-year erosion:

Smallville (CW)
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2008 – Viewers: 4.12 million; A18-49: 1.6/ 4
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 – Viewers: 2.30 million; A18-49: 1.0/ 3
Percent Change – Viewers: -44, A18-49: -37

I think it is safe to assume this is the final season of Smallville. As for The Game, there is ongoing talk of cable net BET producing new episodes. Considering there are already three seasons in the can, that is a good idea.